Strong earthquake hits Japan, but no tsuanmi generated

TOKYO >> A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, but no tsunami is expected.

The
U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.1 earthquake hit at 2:02 a.m. Thursday Japan time (5:02 a.m. Hawaii time) and was centered about 66 miles northeast of
Hachinohe at a depth of 25 miles.

Japan's Kyodo
News agency says the quake shook Aomori prefecture and other
areas of northeastern Japan but no abnormalities were reported at nearby
nuclear power plants. No tsunami warning was issued.

A massive
magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan's northeastern
coastline in March last year, leaving some 19,000 people dead or missing
and badly damaging the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.